Solar panels for air conditioning units are a great way to power your house in an environmentally friendly way. Instead of burning fossil fuels to power your house, car, or outdoor space, using solar panels is a ‘green’ method that can provide you with the same benefits as any other power source.
Not only do individuals spend an excessive amount of money on air conditioning, but energy consumption is directly harmful to the environment.
Sources have shown that air conditioning causes upwards of 117 metric tons of CO2 released into our atmosphere – so how can we combat the ever-rising prices of air conditioning and the emissions of greenhouse gasses?
By using solar panels for air conditioning, individuals can find eco-friendly ways to power anything they need – whether it be homes, sheds, window units, or cars.
Here are some of the key points that I’ll cover, plus some more crucial information that will help your air conditioning decisions in the future:
- Is solar air conditioning right for you?
- Best solar power units for 2022
- Pros and cons of solar power air conditioning units
- How to use solar power air conditioning in cars, sheds, and window units
If you are an eco-conscious individual who sees how the constant consumption of fossil fuels and energy is ruining the world as we know it, using solar power air conditioning in your life can not only make you feel better, but it can help save the environment.
Is Solar Air Conditioning The Right Choice For You?
In short, yes. Solar air conditioning is a technological process that harnesses solar energy from the sun via solar panels to produce air conditioning, central heating, ventilation, or an entire HVAC system for your personal space.
There are two main types of solar air conditioning to install and use in your home – solar photovoltaic air conditioners and solar thermal air conditioners.
Solar photovoltaic air conditioners, also known as solar PV air conditioners, are systems that operate in the same way as your traditional air conditioning system. The unit gathers energy from the solar panels to provide power to the entire grid.
Homeowners who are interested in using solar air conditioners will need to do the correct calculations to ensure they install enough solar panels to power the entire grid system.
Solar thermal air conditioners use collectors to heat a liquid in the grid. The process of heating, evaporating, and condensing the liquid generates energy to produce cool air-conditioned air for your home.
Is Solar Air Conditioning Worth The Installation Of New Products And A Potentially Higher Price At The Onset?
Yes. Solar air conditioning will actually save homeowners money in the long run by cutting down on energy bills.
However, individuals who are considering using this green method must keep in mind that the refund/payback period for the solar panel air conditioning system can vary based on the size of the grid, the energy usage, and the solar PV/solar thermal system.
- The amount of money you can save depends on three factors – the size of the solar panels, the capacity of the batteries, and the amount of power usage of the air conditioner.
- Although the new technology is very costly upfront for items like converters, batteries, solar panels, and new wiring, the long-term energy savings are worth the initial investment.
Furthermore, if your house has limited roof space, you can still use solar panel air conditioners to power your home.
In this case, consider using a smaller solar panel air conditioner unit to utilize renewable energy, save money on energy bills, lower your power consumption, and help the environment.
The bottom line, if your location suffers from extreme heat for a few months per year, solar panels for air conditioning are worth the money you would pay for the electricity to run them. Electric is not cheap and it’s not getting cheaper!
See also: Can Solar Panels Run Air Conditioning? A Comprehensive Breakdown
5 Facts About Solar Air Conditioning
Still not sold on using solar air conditioning? Understanding more about how this system works in your house can help you decide whether or not it is the right choice to power your home.
- You may not need as many solar panels as you thought – Some homeowners think they need to purchase dozens of solar panels to provide power to the entire fire.
- However, they will be happy to know that they do not need to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a whole room full of panels.
- Instead, homeowners just need to calculate how many watts the solar air conditioner uses and how many solar panels are required to meet the watt necessities.
- Solar panels are directly compatible with an air conditioning unit – if you already have an air conditioning unit in your house, you can use solar panels with the pre-installed unit in your home. Instead of using alternating current power, you can purchase a solar power air conditioning unit that uses DC electricity.
- Solar power or grid power – why not both? – Solar panels can use either solar power or grid power to provide air conditioning. Some homeowners opt for a hybrid solar power air conditioning system that uses solar panels connected to the air conditioner and using AC power when the weather is not conducive to solar energy.
- Solar panels are mobile – No, you don’t need to put solar panels only on the roof of your house. Solar panels can go anywhere! They can work for sheds that are in the shade, cars on the go, and almost anywhere else on your property.
- Solar panels can cool down the roof – Not only can solar panels harness the sun’s energy to power your appliances and your home, solar panels can cool down the roof to avoid overheating.
Can I Run An Air Conditioner On Solar Power?
Yes – homeowners can use three types of solar power to run an air conditioner – DC-powered solar air conditioners, AC-powered solar air conditioners, or hybrid-powered solar air conditioners.
- DC Powered – DC-powered solar air conditioners use electricity via a solar panel directly connected to the apparatus. Since these units can run through batteries, they can run off-grid – meaning they do not need any internal AC power.
- The main benefit of using DC-powered solar air conditioners is they are easy to use, simple to install, compatible with full off-grid living, and conducive to powering an air conditioner.
- The only disadvantage of using the DC-powered solar air conditioner is that they can be very costly to run using only batteries.
- AC Powered – AC-powered solar air conditioners convert the DC power from solar panels into the AC.
- The benefits of using AC-powered solar air conditioners are they can be used in tandem with grid power, they can be used as a hybrid source of power, and they are compatible with net metering.
- Hybrid Powered – The last option to run an air conditioner on solar power is using the hybrid-powered solar air conditioners that use the AC and DC power simultaneously.
- The benefits of using hybrid-powered solar air conditioners are that they are more cost-effective, alternate between solar and grid power, and flexible to use during all times of the day or night.
For specific details on how you can run a 1.5-tonne air conditioning unit with solar panels, check out our article here for the full details.
Best Solar Power Units For 2022
To reap the benefits of solar panel air conditioning for your house, you need to make sure you choose the highest-rated options on the market.
Panasonic
Panasonic is one of the best solar panels that are for homeowners who do not have a price limit. This option has top-of-the-line construction, high-quality specifications, low degradation rates, and a 25-year warranty. Panasonic features an efficiency rating of 21.20% and contains 370W output.
LG Solar
LG Solar provides all of the same benefits as the Panasonic solar panel but has a slight cost advantage vs. the leading option. LG Solar has an efficiency rating of 23% and a power output of 405W.
Canadian Solar
If you are looking to save a little bit more money on your solar panel for your home, Canadian Solar provides high-quality panels at a fraction of the cost. This company even offers a 12-year warranty for those who want to protect their finances.
Other solar panels that are highly ranked according to user reviews include Silfab Solar, Q Cells, Axitec Solar USA, Solaria, Seraphim, and Mission Solar Energy.
Pros And Cons Of Solar Power Air Conditioning Units
There are pros and cons of using solar power air conditioning units vs. other non-renewable energy sources.
Pros:
- Decreased utility costs – Since you are using energy from the sun, you don’t need to supply energy from another source.
- Doesn’t need to be connected – Some solar-powered air conditioners don’t need to be connected to anything to use – they are completely off-grid. This increases the versatility and flexibility of these systems so you can continue running appliances when energy is not available.
Cons:
- Might not work at night – Some solar power units may not work at night when there is no solar power to use.
- Not usable in every state – If you live in a state where solar power is not acceptable, like Florida, you cannot reap the benefits of reduced energy usage.
Where Can I Use My Solar Powered Air Conditioner?
One of the main questions that users have when it comes to using solar panels air conditioners is where can I use them? Do they need to be used only for my house?
You can use solar-powered air conditioners for your car, shed, or window unit.
Solar Powered Air Conditioner For Car
It is possible to run your car’s air conditioner using complete AC power. To run your car’s air conditioning on solar power, you need to use a PV panel, battery system, and charge controller to avoid any lost energy during the powering process.
Some of the main challenges of using solar power air conditioners for your car are the ample power required to run your car, the age, and condition of the car’s engine, the condition of the air conditioning unit, and the car’s AC power requirements.
If you are thinking of using solar-powered air conditioning for your car, the potential for solar to work can outweigh the potential drawbacks. Sources have shown that using roof-mounted solar panels can increase reflective capabilities and reduce heat conduction.
Furthermore, solar energy has an infinite potential to provide energy for your vehicle.
Solar Power Air Conditioner For Shed
Is it possible to use an air conditioner for your solar shed? Yes – users can install an AC unit to power their shed in the same way you would play solar panels on your home.
By using a solar kit, owners can decide if they want to use AC power, DC power, or a combination of both. Since all of the components required for the solar power air conditioner will be included in the solar kit, shed owners can install the components on their own.
The main components of a solar kit that are required to install a solar power air conditioner for a shed include the solar collector panels, charge controller, battery, inverter, AC outlet, and light.
- The solar collector panel will convert the sun’s energy to the DC current.
- The charge controller prevents battery damage during the energy collection process.
- The inverter converts DC to AC power.
- The battery contains DC electricity for added power storage.
- The AC outlet can be used to recharge tools inside of the shed.
- The DC light can help preserve the battery and avoid running out of energy during low-solar days.
Solar Power Air Conditioner Window Unit
One of the other most popular places to use a solar power air conditioner is for a portable unit. In some houses, homeowners need a solar air conditioning unit to run for 8 hours a day.
To figure out how much solar energy is required to power the house, homeowners can multiply the air conditioning unit wattage by the number of hours.
One thing that homeowners must keep in mind when using a solar power air conditioner window unit is that DC-powered air conditioners require more money and technology than an AC unit.
An alternative to using a fully DC-powered unit is a hybrid solar-powered air conditioner unit that runs on solar power and AC power.
For specific details on how you can run a 1.5-tonne air conditioning unit with solar panels, check out our article here for the full details.
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